Scientists from Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal and McGill University have just achieved an outstanding breakthrough in cancer research. They have created nanorobotic agents capable of autonomously travelling through the bloodstream in order to precisely apply a drug by targeting specific, active cancerous cells in tumors.
This new way of injecting drug ensures the optimal targeting of a tumor and avoids the risk of haring the integrity of organs and neighboring healthy tissues. Because of that, the medication dosage, which is highly toxic for the human body could be remarkably reduced.
These nanorobotic agents are composed of over 100 million of, self-propelled, flagellated bacteria.
When they encounter a tumor, these nanorobotic agents are capable of autonomously detecting the areas in tumor, which are oxygen depleted (hypoxic zones), and then deliver the drug directly into them.
This exceptional research has been published today in scientific journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Sources:
"Magneto-aerotactic bacteria deliver drug-containing nanoliposomes to tumour hypoxic regions"
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2016.137.html
"Nanobots could be used for precision attacks on cancer, researchers say"
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/08/15/Nanobots-could-be-used-for-precision-attacks-on-cancer-researchers-say/3831471284458/
"Une armée de nanorobots cible avec précision des tumeurs cancéreuses"
http://www.polymtl.ca/carrefour-actualite/nouvelles/une-armee-de-nanorobots-cible-avec-precision-des-tumeurs-cancereuses